X-15 is an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1979 by lead singer Kelly Mitchell, guitarist Eric Alton, bass player Tim Lollar, keyboardist Erik Rohrer, and drummer Todd Fuhs. They are best known as one of the most successful alternative bands operating out of Seattle during the years 1980 through 1987, leading up to the Seattle grunge explosion, and for their cult-classic song "Vaporized".
X-15
X-15 in front of the Gorilla Room in 1980. From left: Eric Rohrer, Eric Alton, Tod Fuhs, Kelly Mitchell, Ken Wooding
X-15's rise to success began in 1980. Because of their unique sounding, original songs - dubbed "melodic punk" by rock critic Daina Darzin of Desperate Times and the New York Rocker - the band quickly became a sought-after alternative to cover bands by booking agents, club promoters and college entertainment directors throughout the Pacific Northwest and in Canada. Thus X-15 routinely played not only the most notable of NW area punk clubs, such as The Gorilla Room and The Smiling Buddha, but also cover-band havens such as Astor Park and "The Hall of Fame". The band's success at cracking the "cover-band" circuit was due in large by its perceived crossover potential. This perception was helped greatly by radio airplay. Soon X-15 was playing larger venues as headliners, and as openers for many of the larger acts of the day.
The band was one of the first to be offered a contract by Engram Records, in 1980, for a 5-song EP which featured X-15's best early material. This collection included "Necessary Evil", "Mad Again", "Chronic Modern Death", "Vaporized", and "Gimme Violation". In 1981 Engram released The Seattle Syndrome Volume 1 compilation, which featured X-15's signature hit "Vaporized" as the lead cut. This release broadened their exposure greatly, and shortly thereafter they became internationally recognized.
Experience Music Project Exhibitionedit
For the opening of Seattle's Experience Music Project museum, the members of X-15 were asked to include "Vaporized" in a collection of NW area band songs. This 47-song compilation, collected and produced in collaboration with Sub Pop records, became "Wild and Wooly" - and includes everything from The Wailers' hit, "Louie Louie", to The Sonics' "The Witch", to Nirvana's "Love Buzz", and Pearl Jam's "Even Flow". X-15 is now featured in a permanent exhibit in the Experience Music Project museum.
band, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2010, learn, when, remove, t. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message X 15 is an American rock band formed in Bellingham Washington in 1979 by lead singer Kelly Mitchell guitarist Eric Alton bass player Tim Lollar keyboardist Erik Rohrer and drummer Todd Fuhs They are best known as one of the most successful alternative bands operating out of Seattle during the years 1980 through 1987 leading up to the Seattle grunge explosion and for their cult classic song Vaporized X 15X 15 in front of the Gorilla Room in 1980 From left Eric Rohrer Eric Alton Tod Fuhs Kelly Mitchell Ken WoodingBackground informationOriginBellingham Washington United StatesGenresRock PunkYears active1979 1987 1995LabelsPanese Records Engram Records I R S Records Sub Pop Records New Soul RecordsPast membersKelly MitchellEric AltonTim LollarErik RohrerTodd FuhsKen Broadfoot Ted Askew Contents 1 History 2 Experience Music Project Exhibition 3 Discography 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksHistory editX 15 s rise to success began in 1980 Because of their unique sounding original songs dubbed melodic punk by rock critic Daina Darzin of Desperate Times and the New York Rocker the band quickly became a sought after alternative to cover bands by booking agents club promoters and college entertainment directors throughout the Pacific Northwest and in Canada Thus X 15 routinely played not only the most notable of NW area punk clubs such as The Gorilla Room and The Smiling Buddha but also cover band havens such as Astor Park and The Hall of Fame The band s success at cracking the cover band circuit was due in large by its perceived crossover potential This perception was helped greatly by radio airplay Soon X 15 was playing larger venues as headliners and as openers for many of the larger acts of the day The band was one of the first to be offered a contract by Engram Records in 1980 for a 5 song EP which featured X 15 s best early material This collection included Necessary Evil Mad Again Chronic Modern Death Vaporized and Gimme Violation In 1981 Engram released The Seattle Syndrome Volume 1 compilation which featured X 15 s signature hit Vaporized as the lead cut This release broadened their exposure greatly and shortly thereafter they became internationally recognized Experience Music Project Exhibition editFor the opening of Seattle s Experience Music Project museum the members of X 15 were asked to include Vaporized in a collection of NW area band songs This 47 song compilation collected and produced in collaboration with Sub Pop records became Wild and Wooly and includes everything from The Wailers hit Louie Louie to The Sonics The Witch to Nirvana s Love Buzz and Pearl Jam s Even Flow X 15 is now featured in a permanent exhibit in the Experience Music Project museum Discography edit Vaporized on the Seattle Syndrome Volume One compilation Engram Records 1981 Life in General 5 track 12 EP Panese Records 1981 Life in General 5 track 12 EP I R S Records 1983 Desperate Reminiscence on the Sounds of Young Seattle compilation D Kulczyk 1983 Vaporized Rebirth single 1985 Top of the Hole CD Horseantler Records 1995 Vaporized on the Wild and Woolly compilation EMP Sub Pop Records 2000 Bombs and Insurance LP New Soul Records 2003References editBlecha Peter 15 April 2009 Sonic Boom The History of Northwest Rock From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit Backbeat Books pp 238 239 ISBN 0 87930 946 6 HUMPHREY Clark 1 January 1995 Loser The Real Seattle Music Story Feral House pp 52 55 61 63 71 77 87 108 143 ISBN 0 922915 27 X Prato Greg 1 April 2009 Grunge Is Dead The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music Ecw Press pp 48 53 147 149 ISBN 1 55022 877 3Notes editDesperate Times Vol 1 No 1 8 July 1981 page 2 section entitled Moving Violations Music of Washington state External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to X 15 band Seattle Syndrome Volume 1 Engram Records Release Wild and Wooly The Northwest Rock Collection 1 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title X 15 band amp oldid 1198686012, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
